title: Epstein-Barr virus-associated B-cell lymphomas: pathogenesis and clinical outcomes.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human γ-herpesvirus that establishes a life-long asymptomatic infection in immunocompetent hosts. It is also found to be frequently associated with a broad spectrum of B-cell lymphomas predominantly seen in immunodeficient patients. Despite many resemblances, these EBV-linked lymphoproliferative disorders display heterogeneity at the clinical and the molecular level. Moreover, EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases differ in their differential expression patterns of the EBV-encoded latent antigens, which are directly related to their interactions with the host. EBV-driven primary B-cell immortalization is linked to the cooperative functions of these latent proteins, which are critical for perturbing many important cell-signaling pathways maintaining B-cell proliferation. Additionally, it is used as a surrogate model to explore the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of B-cell neoplasms. Recent discoveries have revealed that a number of sophisticated mechanisms are exploited by EBV during cancer progression. This finding will be instrumental in the design of novel approaches for therapeutic interventions against EBV-associated B-cell lymphomas. This review limits the discussion to the biology and pathogenesis of EBV-associated B-cell lymphomas and the related clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Tumor Virology Program, Abramson, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Abhik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Erle S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D008954:Models, Biological; D011379:Prognosis; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral